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New small package query...
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Jake
Apr 10, 2013, 11:49:36 PM4/10/13
to
I have measured my widgets that I sell, and the smallest dimension when
wrapped is 8cm thick.
The post office has a slot which is also 8cm thick to gauge items for the
new 'small parcels' rate.
The post office say that the parcels must slide freely through the slot by
way of the force of gravity acting on their mass. My parcels fit through the
slot, but are light for what they are, and so stick slightly. Approximately
the same amount of force applied to a butter knife passing through Flora is
enough to do the job though.
Consequently the PO is insisting I pay the medium parcel rate rather than
the small parcel rate. This is excessive really, because if I was shipping
housebricks, the weight would be enough to make the parcel slide through on
its own (yes, I know the weight would be greater - and hence cost more)
The Post Office website doesn't say 'less than 8cm' it says 'up to 8cm'.Of
course an item measuring 8cm is going to stick somewhat in a slot measuring
8cm.
Do I have any argument that holds water, or will I have to find a cheaper
method of posting?
wrapped is 8cm thick.
The post office has a slot which is also 8cm thick to gauge items for the
new 'small parcels' rate.
The post office say that the parcels must slide freely through the slot by
way of the force of gravity acting on their mass. My parcels fit through the
slot, but are light for what they are, and so stick slightly. Approximately
the same amount of force applied to a butter knife passing through Flora is
enough to do the job though.
Consequently the PO is insisting I pay the medium parcel rate rather than
the small parcel rate. This is excessive really, because if I was shipping
housebricks, the weight would be enough to make the parcel slide through on
its own (yes, I know the weight would be greater - and hence cost more)
The Post Office website doesn't say 'less than 8cm' it says 'up to 8cm'.Of
course an item measuring 8cm is going to stick somewhat in a slot measuring
8cm.
Do I have any argument that holds water, or will I have to find a cheaper
method of posting?
The Older Gentleman
Apr 11, 2013, 3:24:19 AM4/11/13
to
a generous weight allowance), why not try packing some heavy junk in
there as well? Old nuts & bolts or something?
That might overcome the friction sticking problem and allow the envelope
to slide through.
--
Honda CB400 Four x3 Triumph Street Triple Ducati 800SS
BMW K100RS Yamaha 660 Tenere Suzuki GN250, TS250ER x3
So many bikes, so little garage space....
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com
Willy Eckerslyke
Apr 11, 2013, 3:51:22 AM4/11/13
to
Try a different PO?
Niel Humphreys
Apr 11, 2013, 4:47:01 AM4/11/13
to
"Jake" <ja...@jakesplaice.com> wrote in message
news:cNCdnZY7YK1Or_vM...@giganews.com...
Just find out the price & buy the stamps over the counter for the correct
value.
PO staff can be cunts as they have targets to meet and are actively
encouraged to oversell. You should be able to insist on paying the lower
rate and tell them you will take the risk.
--
Cheers
Niel H
news:cNCdnZY7YK1Or_vM...@giganews.com...
value.
PO staff can be cunts as they have targets to meet and are actively
encouraged to oversell. You should be able to insist on paying the lower
rate and tell them you will take the risk.
--
Cheers
Niel H
michael adams
Apr 11, 2013, 7:28:37 AM4/11/13
to
and post a couple to yourself to check.
The gravity thing is presumably because packages go down
a series of chutes with slots at the bottom at the SO.
With enough packets behind it, its likely yours would go
through OK.
In any case at a guess, the tolerances of the slots at the SO
are probably a lot bigger than at the PO counter as they don't
want constant holdups at the SO, whereas at the PO they can
simply charge the customer more. In addition its probably
quite possible for packages to thicken up owing to mishandling
between the PO counter and the SO.
michael adams
...
>
>
John Benn
Apr 11, 2013, 9:32:04 AM4/11/13
to
packages measuring 16 x 16 x 16cm or smaller. ie. if all the dimensions are
16cm or less, then the package is classified as small. I pointed this out
to the staff at my local post office who looked shocked as they hadn't known
about this. It's down in the fine print at the bottom of the list. It
seems that at my local PO, customers had previously been overcharged until I
pointed this out to the staff.
The Older Gentleman
Apr 11, 2013, 10:23:03 AM4/11/13
to
John Benn <mrbenn...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> In the Royal Mail price list, for small packages, there is an exemption for
> packages measuring 16 x 16 x 16cm or smaller. ie. if all the dimensions are
> 16cm or less, then the package is classified as small. I pointed this out
> to the staff at my local post office who looked shocked as they hadn't known
> about this. It's down in the fine print at the bottom of the list. It
> seems that at my local PO, customers had previously been overcharged until I
> pointed this out to the staff.
Bloody hell. That means I've been overcharged as well.
> In the Royal Mail price list, for small packages, there is an exemption for
> packages measuring 16 x 16 x 16cm or smaller. ie. if all the dimensions are
> 16cm or less, then the package is classified as small. I pointed this out
> to the staff at my local post office who looked shocked as they hadn't known
> about this. It's down in the fine print at the bottom of the list. It
> seems that at my local PO, customers had previously been overcharged until I
> pointed this out to the staff.
Thank you *immensely* for pointing this out.
--
Street Triple 800SS XT660 Tenere
CB400F TS250 x3 GN250 CB125S
chateaudotmurrayatidnetdotcom
Have you tried switching it off and on again?
John Benn
Apr 11, 2013, 10:42:30 AM4/11/13
to
"The Older Gentleman" <totallyde...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1l165d7.15ap1j1r1a81sN%totallyde...@yahoo.co.uk...
little or no training. When they realised they had been unintentionally
overcharging, they looked as guilty as sin!
Royal Mail of course only make this exception clear in the small print.
news:1l165d7.15ap1j1r1a81sN%totallyde...@yahoo.co.uk...
> John Benn <mrbenn...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> In the Royal Mail price list, for small packages, there is an exemption
>> for
>> packages measuring 16 x 16 x 16cm or smaller. ie. if all the dimensions
>> are
>> 16cm or less, then the package is classified as small. I pointed this
>> out
>> to the staff at my local post office who looked shocked as they hadn't
>> known
>> about this. It's down in the fine print at the bottom of the list. It
>> seems that at my local PO, customers had previously been overcharged
>> until I
>> pointed this out to the staff.
>
> Bloody hell. That means I've been overcharged as well.
>
> Thank you *immensely* for pointing this out.
I was astounded that the staff at the PO weren't aware. They said they get
>
>> In the Royal Mail price list, for small packages, there is an exemption
>> for
>> packages measuring 16 x 16 x 16cm or smaller. ie. if all the dimensions
>> are
>> 16cm or less, then the package is classified as small. I pointed this
>> out
>> to the staff at my local post office who looked shocked as they hadn't
>> known
>> about this. It's down in the fine print at the bottom of the list. It
>> seems that at my local PO, customers had previously been overcharged
>> until I
>> pointed this out to the staff.
>
> Bloody hell. That means I've been overcharged as well.
>
> Thank you *immensely* for pointing this out.
little or no training. When they realised they had been unintentionally
overcharging, they looked as guilty as sin!
Royal Mail of course only make this exception clear in the small print.
Jake
Apr 11, 2013, 1:31:56 PM4/11/13
to
"michael adams" <mjad...@ukonline.co.uk> wrote in message
news:KI-dncr-s6HzA_vM...@brightview.co.uk...
>
> "Jake" <ja...@jakesplaice.com> wrote in message
> news:cNCdnZY7YK1Or_vM...@giganews.com...
>>I have measured my widgets that I sell, and the smallest dimension when
>>wrapped is 8cm thick.
>>
>> The post office has a slot which is also 8cm thick to gauge items for the
>> new 'small parcels' rate.
>>
>> The post office say that the parcels must slide freely through the slot
>> by way of the force of gravity acting on their mass. My parcels fit
>> through the slot, but are light for what they are, and so stick slightly.
>> Approximately the same amount of force applied to a butter knife passing
>> through Flora is enough to do the job though.
>>
>> Consequently the PO is insisting I pay the medium parcel rate rather than
>> the small parcel rate. This is excessive really, because if I was
>> shipping housebricks, the weight would be enough to make the parcel slide
>> through on its own (yes, I know the weight would be greater - and hence
>> cost more)
>>
>> The Post Office website doesn't say 'less than 8cm' it says 'up to
>> 8cm'.Of course an item measuring 8cm is going to stick somewhat in a slot
>> measuring 8cm.
>>
>> Do I have any argument that holds water, or will I have to find a cheaper
>> method of posting?
>
>
> Why not do as Niel says, buy correct stamps for the up to 8cm size
> and post a couple to yourself to check.
The post office will not accept the items at the counter for the small
> "Jake" <ja...@jakesplaice.com> wrote in message
> news:cNCdnZY7YK1Or_vM...@giganews.com...
>>I have measured my widgets that I sell, and the smallest dimension when
>>wrapped is 8cm thick.
>>
>> The post office has a slot which is also 8cm thick to gauge items for the
>> new 'small parcels' rate.
>>
>> The post office say that the parcels must slide freely through the slot
>> by way of the force of gravity acting on their mass. My parcels fit
>> through the slot, but are light for what they are, and so stick slightly.
>> Approximately the same amount of force applied to a butter knife passing
>> through Flora is enough to do the job though.
>>
>> Consequently the PO is insisting I pay the medium parcel rate rather than
>> the small parcel rate. This is excessive really, because if I was
>> shipping housebricks, the weight would be enough to make the parcel slide
>> through on its own (yes, I know the weight would be greater - and hence
>> cost more)
>>
>> The Post Office website doesn't say 'less than 8cm' it says 'up to
>> 8cm'.Of course an item measuring 8cm is going to stick somewhat in a slot
>> measuring 8cm.
>>
>> Do I have any argument that holds water, or will I have to find a cheaper
>> method of posting?
>
>
> Why not do as Niel says, buy correct stamps for the up to 8cm size
> and post a couple to yourself to check.
parcel rate if they do not fit through the slot in the gauge.
>
> The gravity thing is presumably because packages go down
> a series of chutes with slots at the bottom at the SO.
> With enough packets behind it, its likely yours would go
> through OK.
is a sizing machine at the sorting offices that checks whether small parcels
are in tolerance (as with letter/large letter) and she believes that small
parcels are still being manually sorted.
>
> In any case at a guess, the tolerances of the slots at the SO
> are probably a lot bigger than at the PO counter as they don't
> want constant holdups at the SO, whereas at the PO they can
> simply charge the customer more. In addition its probably
> quite possible for packages to thicken up owing to mishandling
> between the PO counter and the SO.
without their estimation of the correct postage, I won't get a chance to
test the theory of them arriving at the other end with no excess added.
Jake
Apr 11, 2013, 1:34:40 PM4/11/13
to
"John Benn" <mrbenn...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:kk6hvm$ph2$1...@dont-email.me...
measured my parcels - I could see that they would be tight about the 8cm
thing.
Unfortunately one of the other dimensions is 25 cm...
Peter Crosland
Apr 11, 2013, 5:20:51 PM4/11/13
to
that his living depends on at retaining his customers. Find another Post
Office is my suggestion.
--
Regards Peter Crosland
Grimly Curmudgeon
Apr 11, 2013, 6:57:56 PM4/11/13
to
On Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:49:36 +0100, "Jake" <ja...@jakesplaice.com>
wrote:
>The Post Office website doesn't say 'less than 8cm' it says 'up to 8cm'.Of
>course an item measuring 8cm is going to stick somewhat in a slot measuring
>8cm.
>
>Do I have any argument that holds water, or will I have to find a cheaper
>method of posting?
Take a file in with you, next time.
wrote:
>The Post Office website doesn't say 'less than 8cm' it says 'up to 8cm'.Of
>course an item measuring 8cm is going to stick somewhat in a slot measuring
>8cm.
>
>Do I have any argument that holds water, or will I have to find a cheaper
>method of posting?
Raj Kundra
Apr 12, 2013, 4:14:55 AM4/12/13
to
Package will slide half way, but needed little push, so I ended up bringing
it back and cut a little and put tape around it bit tightly.
You can order free template from here:
http://www.royalmail.com/parcel-template-order-form
Raj Kundra
Apr 12, 2013, 4:17:59 AM4/12/13
to
Roland Perry
Apr 12, 2013, 4:41:09 AM4/12/13
to
In message <kk8fqo$hie$1...@dont-email.me>, at 09:17:59 on Fri, 12 Apr
2013, Raj Kundra <r...@kundracomputers.co.uk> remarked:
Given the quite low weight limit, and the fact they are on the
'letterbox' template used behind the counter, I prefer to think of them
as "very large letters".
On a related note, the Post Office's pricing guide (which finally
arrived in my local sub-office about a week after the charges came into
force) is silent about the compensation on "Letters", while showing
compensation rates between �50-�500 on the various Parcel and Special
Delivery services.
--
Roland Perry
2013, Raj Kundra <r...@kundracomputers.co.uk> remarked:
>Also 16 x 16 x 16 cm box is classed as small package.
No such thing as "packages" any more. What you mean is "Small Parcel".
Given the quite low weight limit, and the fact they are on the
'letterbox' template used behind the counter, I prefer to think of them
as "very large letters".
On a related note, the Post Office's pricing guide (which finally
arrived in my local sub-office about a week after the charges came into
force) is silent about the compensation on "Letters", while showing
compensation rates between �50-�500 on the various Parcel and Special
Delivery services.
--
Roland Perry
Raj Kundra
Apr 12, 2013, 4:47:40 AM4/12/13
to
"Roland Perry" <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Qird6zcl...@perry.co.uk...
news:Qird6zcl...@perry.co.uk...
> In message <kk8fqo$hie$1...@dont-email.me>, at 09:17:59 on Fri, 12 Apr 2013,
> Raj Kundra <r...@kundracomputers.co.uk> remarked:
>>Also 16 x 16 x 16 cm box is classed as small package.
>
> No such thing as "packages" any more. What you mean is "Small Parcel".
>
>
sorry my mistake yes "Small Parcel"
> Raj Kundra <r...@kundracomputers.co.uk> remarked:
>>Also 16 x 16 x 16 cm box is classed as small package.
>
> No such thing as "packages" any more. What you mean is "Small Parcel".
>
>
Raj Kundra
Apr 12, 2013, 4:52:46 AM4/12/13
to
>I have measured my widgets that I sell, and the smallest dimension when
>wrapped is 8cm thick.
>
>
>
Post Office already lost 40% of my business to Collect +
>wrapped is 8cm thick.
>
>
>
I wonder how many more will move away.
PF has been charging �1per packet extra without informing me for last 4
months, so they are next to loose some business all depends on what manager
comes back with.
Comper
Apr 12, 2013, 1:06:22 PM4/12/13
to
>I have measured my widgets that I sell, and the smallest dimension when
>wrapped is 8cm thick.
>
> The post office has a slot which is also 8cm thick to gauge items for the
> new 'small parcels' rate.
We are now sending all our smaller parcels via collect plus, and which cost
>wrapped is 8cm thick.
>
> The post office has a slot which is also 8cm thick to gauge items for the
> new 'small parcels' rate.
�3.99 or �4.99. They say 3-5 days but we are finding that they deliver
within two
HTH
News
May 2, 2013, 10:12:05 AM5/2/13
to
In message <cNCdnZY7YK1Or_vM...@giganews.com>, Jake
<ja...@jakesplaice.com> writes
>The Post Office website doesn't say 'less than 8cm' it says 'up to 8cm'.Of
>course an item measuring 8cm is going to stick somewhat in a slot measuring
>8cm.
Apologies for coming late to this one.
First and foremost, there is no excuse for any PO not to know about the
16 x 16 x 16 small size. It is in all the training material. All POs
also have a cube shaped testing template. However, we received no
training as such - just a series of booklets.
Talking templates, we are all supposed to have a new template on the
customer side of the counter, with a larger Small Packet slot. I have
not yet heard of *any* PO having one - they are supposed to be supplied
and fitted by ROMEC, the RM 'engineering' arm.
Yes, we too received price guides a week or more after the prices
increased.
No, we don't have targets to meet. Well, Crown offices may, I suppose,
but subs certainly don't.
No, subs are not more strict on sizes than RM - if anything, the
opposite is true. My experience is that items I 'pass' are often
surcharged by RM. RM will brook no argument - if it is surcharged, it
is surcharged. End of. The problem is that what we do manually, they
do by machine. Similarly, items are described as 'drop through', yet my
template on the customer side is vertical, not horizontal. How can
anything drop through? It can't, of course, and therefore has to be
pushed through.
No question of telling me YOU will take the risk - it ain't your risk to
take. Buy stamps and stick it in a box if you like, but MY outgoing
mail is scrutinised, and financial penalties applied if I underlabel
something.
One final point - rumour has it that RM don't check/surcharge items with
a PO 'gold label' attached. I have no idea whether or not that is true,
but, in eleven years running a sub PO and mail office, including
handling all the items surcharged by RM, I have *never* seen a surcharge
applied to a 'gold label' item. Make of that what you will.
--
Graeme
<ja...@jakesplaice.com> writes
>The Post Office website doesn't say 'less than 8cm' it says 'up to 8cm'.Of
>course an item measuring 8cm is going to stick somewhat in a slot measuring
>8cm.
First and foremost, there is no excuse for any PO not to know about the
16 x 16 x 16 small size. It is in all the training material. All POs
also have a cube shaped testing template. However, we received no
training as such - just a series of booklets.
Talking templates, we are all supposed to have a new template on the
customer side of the counter, with a larger Small Packet slot. I have
not yet heard of *any* PO having one - they are supposed to be supplied
and fitted by ROMEC, the RM 'engineering' arm.
Yes, we too received price guides a week or more after the prices
increased.
No, we don't have targets to meet. Well, Crown offices may, I suppose,
but subs certainly don't.
No, subs are not more strict on sizes than RM - if anything, the
opposite is true. My experience is that items I 'pass' are often
surcharged by RM. RM will brook no argument - if it is surcharged, it
is surcharged. End of. The problem is that what we do manually, they
do by machine. Similarly, items are described as 'drop through', yet my
template on the customer side is vertical, not horizontal. How can
anything drop through? It can't, of course, and therefore has to be
pushed through.
No question of telling me YOU will take the risk - it ain't your risk to
take. Buy stamps and stick it in a box if you like, but MY outgoing
mail is scrutinised, and financial penalties applied if I underlabel
something.
One final point - rumour has it that RM don't check/surcharge items with
a PO 'gold label' attached. I have no idea whether or not that is true,
but, in eleven years running a sub PO and mail office, including
handling all the items surcharged by RM, I have *never* seen a surcharge
applied to a 'gold label' item. Make of that what you will.
--
Graeme
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